7 Days: The Complete Morocco Experience

One week in Morocco offers the perfect balance of imperial cities, coastal charm, mountain landscapes, and authentic cultural immersion. This itinerary connects three of Morocco's most captivating destinations—Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen—with comfortable travel days and meaningful experiences at each stop.

Trip Overview

In seven days, you'll experience Morocco's remarkable diversity: the bustling souks of Marrakech, the ancient medina of Fes (the world's largest car-free urban area), and the dreamy blue streets of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains. This route works perfectly for first-time visitors who want to see Morocco's highlights without rushing.

Total Distance: Approximately 900 kilometers Best Time: March-May and September-November Pace: Balanced—sightseeing and relaxation Highlights: Three imperial cities, mountain scenery, UNESCO sites, authentic Moroccan life

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

Welcome to the Red City! Marrakech will awaken your senses from the moment you arrive.

Arrival & Orientation

Afternoon:

• Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport
• Private transfer to your riad in the medina (30-45 minutes)
• Welcome mint tea and orientation from your hosts
• Freshen up and rest after your journey

Pro tip: Request a riad that arranges pickup inside the medina. Many drivers will drop you at the edge, leaving you to navigate confusing alleyways with luggage.

Evening: Jemaa el-Fnaa Magic

5:00 PM: Walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech's legendary main square. Find a rooftop café (Café de France or Le Grand Balcon) and watch the square transform as night approaches.

7:00 PM: Descend into the chaos. The square becomes an open-air restaurant with dozens of food stalls, musicians, storytellers, and performers. Try:

• Fresh orange juice (4-5 MAD)
• Harira soup
• Grilled meats from stall #1 or #14
• Moroccan pastries

Alternative: For a gentler first night, book dinner at a traditional palace restaurant like Dar Moha or Le Tobsil.

Accommodation: Traditional riad in the medina Meals: Dinner included

Day 2: Marrakech Immersion

A full day to explore the Red City's architectural treasures and vibrant markets.

Morning: Palaces & Gardens

8:30 AM - Bahia Palace Start at this 19th-century masterpiece of Moroccan craftsmanship. The palace's 160 rooms showcase intricate zellige tilework, carved stucco, and painted cedar ceilings. Allow 1.5 hours.

10:30 AM - Saadian Tombs A short walk brings you to these ornate 16th-century royal mausoleums, hidden for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917.

11:30 AM - Majorelle Garden Take a taxi to the Ville Nouvelle for this stunning botanical garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent. The cobalt blue villa and exotic plants offer a peaceful contrast to the medina's intensity.

Afternoon: Souks & Secrets

1:00 PM - Lunch at Nomad Modern Moroccan cuisine with rooftop views near the spice square.

2:30 PM - Souk Exploration Navigate the medina's labyrinthine markets:

• Spice Square for saffron and ras el hanout
• Leather souk for bags and babouches
• Dyers' souk to see vivid yarns drying in the sun
• Metalworkers' alley for handcrafted lanterns

Bargaining tip: Offer 30-40% of the first price and negotiate from there. Walking away often brings the best deals.

Evening: Hammam & Dinner

6:00 PM - Traditional Hammam Experience Morocco's public bath ritual at Les Bains de Marrakech or Heritage Spa. The steam, scrub, and massage leave you refreshed.

8:30 PM - Palace Dinner Dine in an opulent setting at Dar Yacout or Le Foundouk, complete with live music and multiple courses.

Accommodation: Traditional riad Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 3: Marrakech to Fes

Today you'll travel north through the heart of Morocco, experiencing the changing landscapes from High Atlas foothills to Middle Atlas mountains.

Morning: Early Departure

7:00 AM - Breakfast and checkout

8:00 AM - Scenic Drive Begins Your private vehicle heads north on the N8 highway. The journey to Fes takes approximately 5-6 hours, with stops along the way.

Landscape changes:

• First hour: Haouz Plain with olive groves
• Second hour: Pre-Atlas hills
• Third hour: Crossing into Middle Atlas terrain

Midday: Beni Mellal Rest Stop

12:00 PM - Beni Mellal Break for coffee in this pleasant agricultural town at the base of the Middle Atlas. The surrounding region produces much of Morocco's olives and oranges.

Afternoon: Entering Fes

2:30 PM - Middle Atlas Views The final stretch passes through cedar forests and increasingly green landscapes—a dramatic change from Marrakech's arid surroundings.

4:00 PM - Arrival in Fes Check into your riad in Fes el-Bali, the ancient medina. Your host will likely meet you at a taxi stand, as the narrow alleys prohibit vehicles.

Evening: First Fes Impressions

5:30 PM - Rooftop Orientation Many Fes riads offer stunning rooftop terraces overlooking the medina. Enjoy mint tea as the call to prayer echoes across the city.

7:30 PM - Dinner Eat at your riad or venture out to Café Clock for its famous camel burger and contemporary Moroccan cuisine.

Driving Distance: 470 km (5-6 hours) Accommodation: Traditional riad in Fes el-Bali Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 4: Fes - The Spiritual Capital

Fes el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban area and home to the world's oldest university. Today you'll explore its 9,400 lanes with an expert guide.

Morning: Guided Medina Tour

9:00 AM - Meet Your Guide A local guide is essential in Fes—the medina is genuinely maze-like, and a good guide reveals layers of history invisible to casual visitors.

First stops:

• Bou Inania Madrasa: A 14th-century theological college with extraordinary carved cedar and tilework
• Foundouk el-Nejjarine: Historic caravanserai now housing a wood arts museum

10:30 AM - The Tanneries Fes's medieval leather tanneries are among Morocco's most iconic sights. View the colorful dyeing vats from a leather shop terrace (you'll receive mint to mask the smell). Workers treat hides using methods unchanged for centuries.

12:00 PM - Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque & University Founded in 859 AD, this is the world's oldest continuously operating educational institution. Non-Muslims can admire the exterior and peek through doorways at the stunning courtyard.

Afternoon: Crafts & Cuisine

1:00 PM - Lunch Eat at a traditional palace restaurant like Dar Roumana or The Ruined Garden for refined Moroccan cuisine in a beautiful setting.

3:00 PM - Artisan Workshops Fes remains Morocco's crafts capital. Visit workshops to see:

• Zellige tile cutting and assembly
• Brass and copper hammering
• Embroidery and weaving
• Traditional pottery in the potters' quarter

5:00 PM - Mellah (Jewish Quarter) Explore the historic Jewish neighborhood with its distinctive balconied houses and quiet atmosphere.

Evening: Rooftop Views

6:30 PM - Sunset from Borj Nord For the best views of Fes, take a taxi to the hilltop fortress north of the medina. The panorama at sunset is unforgettable.

8:00 PM - Dinner Return to the medina for dinner. Try Café Clock's music nights or a traditional palace meal.

Accommodation: Traditional riad in Fes Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner optional

Day 5: Fes to Chefchaouen

Leave the ancient medina for Morocco's famous Blue Pearl, nestled in the Rif Mountains.

Morning: Final Fes Moments

8:00 AM - Breakfast and checkout

9:00 AM - Last exploration (optional) Visit a site you missed or do final shopping. The Andalusian Quarter on the opposite riverbank is quieter and less touristed.

10:00 AM - Departure for Chefchaouen The drive takes approximately 4 hours through increasingly mountainous terrain.

Journey Through the Rif

Route highlights:

• Olive groves and farmland in the first hour
• Winding mountain roads through the Rif
• Dramatic gorges and valleys
• First glimpses of Chefchaouen's blue buildings

1:30 PM - Arrival in Chefchaouen Park outside the medina and walk (or arrange porter) to your guesthouse through the famous blue streets.

Afternoon: Blue Discovery

2:30 PM - Lunch and Settling Enjoy a rooftop lunch overlooking the blue medina. Fresh trout and local goat cheese are specialties.

4:00 PM - First Medina Walk Begin exploring the compact blue-painted streets. Unlike Marrakech or Fes, Chefchaouen is small enough that you won't get seriously lost.

Key spots:

• Plaza Uta el-Hammam (main square)
• The Kasbah (small museum with garden)
• Ras el-Maa (waterfall at medina edge)

Evening: Blue Hour Photography

6:00 PM - Golden Hour The late afternoon light transforms the blue streets into a photographer's dream. Wander with your camera as the sun sets.

8:00 PM - Dinner Eat at a rooftop restaurant with medina views. Try local specialties like fried river fish and bissara (fava bean soup).

Driving Distance: 200 km (4 hours) Accommodation: Guesthouse in Chefchaouen Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 6: Chefchaouen & Surroundings

A relaxed day to enjoy the Blue Pearl's unique atmosphere and surrounding nature.

Morning: Mountain Hike

7:00 AM - Sunrise Option Early risers can hike to the Spanish Mosque (30 minutes uphill) for sunrise over the blue medina.

9:00 AM - Akchour Waterfalls Excursion Take a day trip to Akchour, featuring:

• God's Bridge (natural rock arch)
• Multiple waterfall cascades
• Swimming pools in summer
• Hiking trails through cedar forests

Allow 4-5 hours round-trip with moderate hiking

Alternative: If you prefer a relaxed morning, simply explore the medina's quieter streets and hidden corners.

Afternoon: Culture & Crafts

2:00 PM - Late Lunch Return to town for a leisurely meal at Casa Aladdin or Restaurant Beldi.

3:30 PM - Medina Exploration Chefchaouen's shops are less aggressive than larger cities:

• Woven blankets and rugs
• Leather goods
• Local goat cheese
• Traditional Riffian crafts

5:00 PM - Ras el-Maa Walk to the spring and waterfall at the medina's edge. Local women wash clothes in the traditional way, and you can dip your feet in the cool water.

Evening: Final Blue Hours

7:00 PM - Dinner with Views Enjoy your last evening in Chefchaouen. Many restaurants offer rooftop seating with spectacular medina views.

9:00 PM - Evening Stroll The medina is atmospheric after dark—quiet, safe, and illuminated by soft light.

Accommodation: Guesthouse in Chefchaouen Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 7: Chefchaouen to Departure

Your Moroccan journey concludes with a return to Fes or Tangier for departure.

Morning: Early Start

7:00 AM - Sunrise Photography One final morning in the blue streets. The early light is magical.

8:30 AM - Breakfast and Checkout

9:00 AM - Departure

Option A: Fes Departure (4 hours)

If flying from Fes:

• Return via the same scenic route
• Arrive at Fes airport by early afternoon
• Connect to international flights

Option B: Tangier Departure (2.5 hours)

If departing via Tangier:

• Shorter drive north through the Rif
• Arrive with time for Tangier exploration:
  • Kasbah and Medina
  • Café Hafa (cliff-side tea terrace)
  • Cap Spartel (where Atlantic meets Mediterranean)
• Evening ferry to Spain or airport departure

Option C: Continue to Casablanca

For international flights from Casablanca:

• Drive to Tangier (2.5 hours)
• Train to Casablanca (2.5 hours high-speed)
• Airport is connected to train station

Meals: Breakfast included

What's Included

• 6 nights accommodation (traditional riads and guesthouses)
• All breakfasts, 5 dinners
• Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
• English-speaking driver
• Half-day guided tour in Fes
• Airport transfers
• Entrance fees to included sites

Practical Information

Packing Essentials

• Comfortable walking shoes (medinas are uneven)
• Modest clothing (cover shoulders/knees for religious sites)
• Layers for Chefchaouen's mountain evenings
• Camera for the incredible photography opportunities
• Small daypack for daily exploration

Money

• Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is required
• ATMs available in all cities
• Cash preferred in medinas; cards accepted in hotels
• Budget: 500-1,500 MAD per day depending on style

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (March-May): Ideal temperatures, wildflowers
• Fall (September-November): Perfect weather, fewer crowds
• Summer (June-August): Hot in Marrakech/Fes, pleasant in Chefchaouen
• Winter (December-February): Cool, occasional rain, low season

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can this itinerary be done in reverse? A: Absolutely. Starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech works equally well.

Q: Is 7 days enough for Morocco? A: Seven days covers the northern highlights well. Add days for the Sahara Desert, Essaouira coast, or Atlas Mountains.

Q: How difficult is the driving? A: All transfers are by private vehicle with a professional driver. You simply enjoy the scenery.

Q: Is the Fes medina really that confusing? A: Yes, but that's part of its charm. A guide is highly recommended for your first exploration.

Q: Can I add other destinations? A: Popular additions include Rabat (1 day), Meknes/Volubilis (1 day from Fes), or extending to the coast.